(a) As used in this section:
(1) "Degree-related courses" means educational courses of a set and finite duration with a specified subject matter and content which are directly related to the current job duties and responsibilities of an employee, which will enhance the ability of the employee to progress to, and/or perform in, any higher position within the department or division of said employee's services, and in which credit is received towards an undergraduate or graduate degree.
(2) "Employee" means any full-time employee or officer of the City who is not covered by a collective bargaining unit and who has completed his or her probationary period of employment.
(3) "Job-related courses" means educational courses of a set and finite duration with a specified subject matter and content which are directly related to the current job duties and responsibilities of an employee, which will enhance the ability of the employee to progress to, and/or perform in, any higher position within the department or division of said employee's services and in which no credit is received towards an undergraduate or graduate degree.
(4) "School" means a college, university or technical institute which has been appropriately accredited by the Ohio Board of Education, the Ohio Board of Regents and the Ohio State Board of School and College Registration, as vested by law with the authority to approve, accredit and certify educational institutions.
(b) Pursuant to the terms and provisions of this section, each employee who is successfully completes a job-related or degree-related course of study, as defined in subsection (a) hereof, shall be entitled to educational tuition reimbursement as set forth herein. In relation to any course for which such employee receives such reimbursement under this section, said employee shall be entitled to no other compensation, award, reimbursement or expense as a result of said employee's attendance at or completion of the same.
(c) Each request for educational tuition reimbursement under this section shall be filed with and subject to the approval of the City Manager on application forms prescribed by the Department of Finance; shall provide fully all information requested thereupon; shall be executed personally by the employee requesting reimbursement; and shall be delivered to the office of the City Manager prior to the inception of the course at issue. The City Manager has the final authority for the determination of whether a course is either a job-related or an approved degree-related course.
(d) Within thirty days after the completion of the course for which educational reimbursement is requested by an employee, a certified copy of a transcript or grade report identifying the course and reflecting the grade for the same, and proof of payment by the employee and the amount of the tuition, the enrollment or application fee, fees, books and laboratory fees related to such course shall be submitted to the City Manager's office along with a completed course summary.
(e) For each course for which educational tuition reimbursement has been applied for and approved, and in which the employee receives a satisfactory grade of a "C" or better or a passing grade in a pass/fail graded course, the employee shall be reimbursed by the City for the amount he or she paid for tuition, the enrollment fee, fees, books and laboratory fees, not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00) per employee per calendar year.
(f) For any course in which an employee receives a grade of less than a "C" or a failing grade in a pass/fail course or in which the employee receives an indication that he or she has withdrawn or otherwise failed to complete the same, or in which no rated grade has been awarded, the employee shall receive no tuition reimbursement hereunder.
(g) Employees shall be awarded no tuition reimbursement hereunder for any portion of the expenses, costs or fees for which the employee has received compensation, or which have been fully defrayed by scholarships, grants, awards and/or subsidies, from sources other than the City.
(h) Any employee who applies for and receives educational tuition reimbursement under this section, and who, within twelve months after the receipt thereof, voluntarily terminates his or her employment with the City, shall be obligated to refund to the City the amount thereof. Any employee who applies for an receives educational tuition reimbursement under this section, and who, within twenty-four months after the receipt thereof, voluntarily terminates his or her employment with the City, shall be obligated to refund to the City fifty percent of the amount thereof. The City and the Department of Finance are empowered hereby to withhold from any amounts due such employee such sums as are necessary to effect said reimbursement and/or to pursue other legal means and methods to effect the same.
(Ord. 4545. Passed 1-21-97.)